I had no idea there’s a haven of lush forest and a vibrant railroad history paralleling the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron until I spent a day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I knew there are beautiful rolling hills covered with forest near Cleveland, but what I wasn’t expected was beautiful waterfalls, picturesque serene … Continue reading
Have you ever been to a place that immediately whisk you away into mystical serenity? That’s what you experience at Hovenweep National Monument. I first visited this magical spot right after my brother passed away in late May 2016. I guess a stop at a place with “weep” in the name on a trip … Continue reading
I’ve hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park before, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to hike it again on Earth Day. I’d planned to do a sunrise hike, but when the alarm went off, I hit snooze for a bit longer, but still managed to make it to the trailhead before the … Continue reading
Magical, stunning, spectacular, mesmerizing, fantastic, breathtaking – all wonderful ways to describe a sunset in Death Valley National Park. But, watching sunset from 282 feet below sea level in Badwater Basin will leave you speechless. Standing in the lowest spot in North America and watching the sky turn from shades of yellow to pink and … Continue reading
Ever wanted to venture into the crater of a volcano? In Northeast New Mexico, you can do just that in Capulin Volcano National Monument. Capulin is in the heart of the 8,000-square-mile Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field. Capulin Volcano rises more than 1,300 feet above the shortgrass prairie. The first time I saw it was at sunset … Continue reading
Joshua trees are known for their spiky leafed, branches reaching for the heavens are ubiquitous in most of Joshua Tree National Park, but not on this trail. The elevation is too low for the yuccas (Joshua trees don’t have rings so they are not really trees). Instead, you’ll find palm trees in this secluded oasis … Continue reading
It’s Joshua Tree National Park’s most dangerous hike. Not because of the extreme heat, rattlesnakes, or rugged terrain, but because of the “teddy bear” cactus. It sounds cuddly, but it’s not. You are literally surrounded by cacti in the Cholla Cactus Garden. It’s one of the shortest hikes in Joshua Tree, but could easily be … Continue reading
“I wanna run, I wanna hide. I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside.” Those are the first words of “Where the Streets Have No Name.” Those are the opening words of the legendary rock band U2’s album The Joshua Tree. For years I had wanted to go to the mythical and magical … Continue reading
You must be logged in to post a comment.